Stock options probe claims more victims

Looks like there are some major changes at McAfee as a result at least partially, from the federal review of their stock option granting practice.  Chairman and CEO George Samenuk announced his "retirement" and President Kevin Weiss was fired.  Previously, general counsel Kent Roberts was also fired in connection with the probe.  For those not familiar, the stock option probe in IT began with the Mercury Interactive scandal which led to their changing management and may have been a factor in their HP acquisition.  Other companies have also been caught up in the mess including Extreme Networks and CNet whose CEO also stepped down today.

Eventually, I imagine after some earnings restatements and some hits to the stock price, things will begin to return to normal. However I think this is a very crucial time for McAfee.  They are in the middle of completing and integrating a few acquisitions, trying to deal with the threat of Microsoft  coming into their bread and butter market and now is the worst time to go through a major management shakeup.   It will remain to be seen what effect this is going to have on their short term performance and what if any effect this will leave long term.  Should be very interesting to watch from a distance, I don't know how I would feel if I were a customer or employee though.